Emirati says it's 'an honour' to carry Olympic flame through London

posted on 16/05/2012

He has been measured for his suit and the date set for Abdulla Al Gurg to carry the Olympic flame through the streets of London in advance of the summer Games.

Mr Al Gurg, an Emirati who lives in Dubai, will be one of 800 people to carry the torch through more than 1,000 cities, towns and villages in the UK.

The torch was lit in Olympia, Greece, last Thursday and will arrive in the UK on Friday, where it will begin its 70-day journey.

Mr Al Gurg, 30, will carry the flame only 450 metres, but said he will savour every moment of it.

"I am going to walk very slowly and make sure everyone in the UK can take plenty of pictures of me and send them back to Dubai," he said, laughing.

Officials have already put in the order for his special white uniform, which he will wear for his run on July 26, the day before the Games open.

"It will be an honour to be one of the few," Mr Al Gurg said. "I really appreciate the gesture and hope I can reciprocate it as a torch-bearer. I am sure some Emiratis have their reasons to be nominated from a sporting point of view.

"My cause is from charity and we can showcase that more, especially for NGO charity organisations."

Mr Al Gurg is the general manager of Easa Saleh Al Gurg (Esag) Group, the family business. He was chosen as a torch-bearer because of his contributions to the community. His sponsor is Lloyds TSB in London, one of the three companies supporting the torch relay.

Mr Al Gurg also sits on the board of the Esag Charity Foundation, which was set up after a decree by Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Vice President and Ruler of Dubai.

The foundation, which does not accept donations, gives to educational and health care charities in the UAE and Africa.

It gave to more than 10,000 causes last year, including financial assistance to more than 5,000 individuals, and also aided more than 500 medical cases and donated educational aid to 1,000 schools and universities.

The foundation has helped support the building of six mosques in and outside the UAE.

Since 2010, it has donated US$9million (Dh33m) to various causes across the world.

The charity owns a number of tower blocks in Sharjah and Dubai and more than 30 villas in Jumeirah. The profits taken from rent goes into a fund, which is then donated.

"It supports education, health care and social well-being of certain cases," Mr Al Gurg said.

Underprivileged students who do not have access to education are also supported. "I hope to make a point of exposing all the good work charities do and be an advocate of charity work. We rarely celebrate the good work done and success. We always look at the sorrows of the unfortunate in society," he said.

"We also have to appreciate a lot of the work the foundations are doing."

A representative of Lloyds TSB flew to Dubai to tell Mr Al Gurg he was had been put forward to go through the process.

"I didn't know what it meant in the beginning and obviously I made myself aware of it and it looks like a big thing," he said. "It took a while for it to sink in and it seems like an interesting thing to do and to be in London for the Olympics is a rare opportunity."

As his part of the relay will be during Ramadan, Mr Al Gurg will be fasting, and his family will not be in the UK to cheer him on.

"I think it's too crowded for them, and as it will be Ramadan they will be with their family," he said. He was not sure if he would go to any of the events. He said he wanted to fly back and be with his three children.

Eight thousand people have been chosen to carry the torch on the basis of their contributions to their communities.

Mr Al Gurg will receive a replica of the torch to bring home with him and plans to put it in his office next to his other prized possession, a set of Tiger Woods's golf clubs. – The National

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Falconry attracting young generation, says expert

posted on 16/05/2012

The young generation is showing increasing interest in falconry as a sport, said Humaid Obaid Al Muhairi, Managing Director of Dubai Falcon Hospital.

"Falconry is an activity that is usually passed down generations. Now, children whose fathers do not practise falconry are actively taking up the sport. I think it's because of the several falconry competitions with attractive prices being organised,” he added.

Muhairi spoke with Khaleej Times on the sidelines of the World Migratory Bird Day Seminar at the Nad Al Sheba Falcon Centre on Monday.

The seminar stressed that falconry is a sport that is deeply rooted in the Arab world. The Dubai Municipality has planned various activities to mark World Migratory Birds' Day and spread awareness regarding bird species, which have high environmental value.

The speakers at the seminar included Mohammed Abdul Rahman Hassan, Head of Marine Development and Wildlife Section of the municipality; Saif Al Shara, Assistant Deputy Minister of Environment and Water for Aquatic Resources and Conservation of Nature; Dr Gamal Madani, Consultant Protected Areas, Ministry of Environment and Water; and Sarah Gough from the Dubai Falcon Hospital. Muhairi also advised falconers to avoid training falcons near cables and fences.

He said, "The biggest challenge that the hospital faces in protecting the birds are treating them for diseases like Bumblefoot and Aspergillosis. Take Bumblefoot, for example. The incidence of the disease is high because owners are not careful with the birds. If it is diagnosed in the early stages, it can be treated.” Sometimes, the hospital has to treat falcons that have met with accidents.

Protecting endangered species

Dr Madani said that a lot more must be done to protect endangered species. He said the biggest concern is the use of pesticides, which have endangered the life of the Peregrine Falcon. Dr Madani listed the various endangered and potentially vulnerable bird species in the UAE, including the Imperial eagle, the Egyptian vulture and the yellow-breasted bunting. An exhibition of photographs of different kinds of local and international birds has opened for the public at the Falcon Centre.

Meanwhile, a special awareness programme for students will be organised in collaboration with Al Ebdaa Model School in Deira on May 16. – Khaleej Times

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Shamma Hamdan's got talent … and a word for her critics

posted on 16/05/2012

The world has discovered Shamma Hamdan, the first Emirati woman to make it to the finals of the hit reality show Arabs Got Talent. Fame has had its ups and downs for the 18-year-old, but she is unbowed by criticisms and promises to surprise at her next performance. Rym Ghazal reports

Shamma Hamdan is relaxing in the majlis of her parent's home and ready to reveal one of her secrets. "I love to dance Zumba,"she says.

It's the sort of inconsequential nugget of information about her life that is likely to be seized on by the growing number of fans - and detractors - of the newest star of Arabs Got Talent.

At just 18, the schoolgirl from Dubai suddenly finds herself in the full glare of the celebrity spotlight after becoming the first Emirati woman to make it through to the finals of the hit reality TV show.

Her performance - strumming a guitar while singing in Gulf Arabic style - was described as "breathtaking" by one judge. But at the same time her decision to appear uncovered has sparked a backlash among some of her fellow countrymen and women.

For the moment, though, she seems untouched by the ups and downs of fame. Recalling her audition for the show, she says "I have accomplished one of my biggest dreams. My voice and music reached people, and they listened."

As for the criticism of her appearance, much of it on social networking sites like Twitter, she explains that her outfit of comfortable trousers, a suede purple jacket, wavy short hair, and a bandanna around her neck, what she calls "a very relaxed guitar look" was inspired by her father, who first taught her to play the instrument.

"That is just one side of me the world saw, there is a lot to me besides that one style of performance. They couldn't attack me on my singing and skills, and so they found something else to criticise and attack," she said. "My clothing."

For her exclusive interview with The National, Shamma presents a more feminine side, introducing herself with a shy smile but a confident handshake. She is dressed in a silky white shirt with a horse head pattern, black suit trousers, a pair of loafers and a gold Fendi necklace. She apologies for her unkempt hair, explaining she has just taken a quick nap after an exam. Unmistakable though is her dimple and a pair of startling green eyes, speckled with blue.

At the time of the audition she was only 17 and celebrated her birthday on April 28. "I am a typical Taurus. I go chasing after my dreams," she said.

In her final year at Dubai Modern Education school, Shamma will graduate at the end of this month after taking her final exams.

Before her appearance on Arabs Got Talent, filmed in Beirut, Shamma admits that she was particularly worried about Ali Jaber, the Lebanese journalist and academic with a reputation for being the most critical of the three judges.

As it turned out there was nothing to worry about. As the audience applauded enthusiastically, another judge, the legendary Lebanese singer Najwa Karam told her: "You were breathtaking. You are still very young but your singing in Arabic is amazing."

Then came the verdict of Jaber. "Your voice, Shamma, is clear. I like you," he said. "I like your performance and I liked your show a lot."

At that moment, Shamma says: "That is when I knew. I have passed."

None of this would have been possible without the support of her family, including her four sisters and brother. Her father works for the Civil Defence and her mother at the Ministry of Education. At home, the whole family loves music.

We are a musical family, where when we don't play musical instruments, we sing and dance to music," she says. "Music is in our genes."

Currently she has ten guitars, a piano and drums in a special music room at her family home.

Her introduction to music came through her father and his brothers, who were a band that played in the privacy of their homes and for their friends.

At the age of eight, Shamma picked up one of her father's guitars and never let go. "My fingers were raw and in great pain in the beginning, but now, they can't rest unless they are resting on a guitar's chords," she says. She has never had a professional lesson and even today, cannot read music.

Pausing to search for that original inspiration, she points out a family photograph of her father from his days in the band. "I always like to look at that photo, my father looked so happy and comfortable in hippie style clothing and wavy gypsy hair cut, playing on the guitar," she said. "It looked heavenly and so I wanted to find out why he looked so happy."

That look, she says, helped inspire her outfit on Arabs Got Talent.

When the show was broadcast earlier this week, Shamma says she was prepared for "some" criticism, but not for the level of abuse that followed from some quarters.

Her Twitter account went to 87,000 followers, many complementary, but others less so. Some tweets slammed her for her "un-Islamic" and "un-Emirati" appearance. Others were more cruel, making comments like "Shame on you. You don't represent anything Emirati. You should be pulled from the show." Still more made fun of her appearance.

"It was like fire, rumours spread about my origin, that I am not 'originally' Emirati, that I am from Iran, Iraq, Pakistan, India, even Afghanistan, cause, hey, I don't look like the typical Emirati," she said. In fact the family is from Al Raisi tribe.

"I am not a tomboy, not a boyat, not anything. I am just a musician who is a bit sporty," she says. "I like to surf when I am not playing music."

"Imagine I performed in an abaya and shayla while playing on a guitar? What would they say? I would be called the biggest sinner in the world."

As for wearing the hijab, she says her family accepts her the way she is, and when she is ready, she will cover. For now Shamma wears the abaya when she goes out in public.

Her next appearance will be in the first of the elimination rounds. She will fly to Beirut for the live show just days after finishing her exams and promises the world will see a different side and performance.

"An artist is always rediscovering themselves. I am going to surprise you yet," she says, hinting that she may use an electrical guitar.

None of this would have been possible, she says if it wasn't for her "personal manager and makeup artist", her 20 year old sister, Salama.

"I want my sister to look and be her best," Salama says, adding red lipstick, concealer and a bit of blush and mascara on her sister for the photo shoot for the National.

"I know how judgemental the world is and that it doesn't understand laid back people like her who are more focused on the actual music," she says. In fact Shamma's appearance on Arabs Got Talent is down to her sister, who works as a photographer but has also posted YouTube videos of her sister and gathered support around the Arab world.

"I applied on her behalf and then surprised her the day of the auditions last summer saying she must go and perform," says Salama.

Saudi women are currently her sister's biggest fans, Salama says, with the biggest backlash coming from Emirati women, particularly from Abu Dhabi.

"I knew my sister was talented," she says."I just wanted the world to meet her."

When she is not on stage, Shamma spends her time on the beach, surfing at Wild Wadi or among books in bookstores and cafes. Whatever happens in the show, she plans to study international politics and hopes to become a diplomat one day.

"There is so much to do in life, people are just too focused on appearances and on negative stuff, not giving their own hearts and souls enough attention," she says.

In addition to Arabic, Shamma has composed songs in Spanish and says "I dream I am in Spain when I play them, and so, I am going to Spain soon."

Her other dream is to hold a concert."A real concert, where youths like me and even maybe my father and his generation can come and play and sing without any worries and restrictions," she said. "It will be about music, and not about who and what one is wearing." – The National

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League of luxury expands its ranks in Abu Dhabi

posted on 16/05/2012

Walk into the lobby of the new Sofitel hotel and it exudes opulence.

A rich scent of perfume wafts through the air, there is a grand piano, its workings encased in a transparent body, and the staff are elegantly dressed.

Wander upstairs and there is modern, upmarket jazz bar and a stylish seafood restaurant. It may sound like you are in the heart of a western city but, in fact, this stylish new property is located on Abu Dhabi's Corniche.

The Sofitel Abu Dhabi is the latest luxury hotel to open its doors in the capital and it is part of something of a renaissance on the Corniche.

"The Corniche, I think, is still the heart of the city," says Oliver Key, the general manager of the St Regis Abu Dhabi, another luxury hotel being developed at the other end of the road as part of the Dh1.6 billion (US$435.5m) Nation Towers project. "It's a great stretch of coastline."

The hotel is expected to open in September and is part of a complex that will include apartments, offices and shops.

But these hotels will need to work hard to generate business. Despite several new developments coming on to the market, total hotel revenues in Abu Dhabi increased only by 1 per cent to Dh1.2bn in the first quarter compared with the same period last year, figures from the Abu Dhabi Tourism and Culture Authority show.

The extra hotel supply triggered a 6 per cent decline in occupancy to 64.1 per cent in the first quarter compared with the same months last year, according to STR Global. Abu Dhabi's average daily room rate, meanwhile, fell 11.7 per cent to Dh633.85.

Mr Key believes his hotel's unique attractions will draw guests in.

These include a Gary Rhodes restaurant, a beach club, butler service and a 1,100-square metre suite located in what the hotel describers as the world's tallest bridge between two buildings.

"That will be a talking point for sure," says Mr Key. "The two towers are joined at the top with a bridge. The entire bridge is just the majlis living space of the suite. It has a little spa area, it has a little cinema."

Just like the St Regis, Jean-Philippe Bittencourt, the general manager of the Sofitel, which opened in March, knows he will have his work cut out to entice guests. More than 2,000 luxury hotel rooms have already opened in Abu Dhabi in just a matter of months.

"The St Regis will be our direct competitor because it's in the Corniche," says Mr Bittencourt.

"The market is very challenging because there are so many hotels. Our prime market is corporate because of the location and also because of the facilities we have in our hotel. And of course we're also trying to attract people especially coming for short breaks, weekends."

Rotana, which operates properties including the Khalidiya Palace, which opened in 2010 and is located opposite Emirates Palace, is noticing the effect of the competition, which includes the nearby Jumeirah Etihad Towers property, launched in November.

"Abu Dhabi is definitely feeling the heat from the additional inventory," says Selim El Zyr, the president and chief executive of Rotana Hotels. "New hotels are finding their way. It usually takes one year, two years to stabilise in a market where demand is lower than supply. There's also pressure on existing hotels, which are losing market share and occupancy."

Yet the capital still has work to do on establishing itself as a destination and on how it can bring in more tourists during the summer.

"The challenges of the 'low-season' need to be tackled," says Chiheb ben Mahmoud, the head of hotel advisory at Jones Lang LaSalle Hotels, Middle East and Africa. "It is important that all parties and stakeholders to cooperate in order to implement the destination growth strategy."

The Ritz-Carlton Grand Canal, meanwhile, is expected to open in the Between The Bridges area, later this year. It has 532 rooms and is hoping to bring something new to the capital, too.

"The project will have a hotel but also we have a 'Venetian village' that will be on the side of the hotel, where the customers will be able to walk through and it will feel a bit like being in a small Italian town and that will also be offering some food and beverage options," says Pascal Duchauffour, the area vice president for Ritz-Carlton in Europe, the Middle East and Africa.

"Abu Dhabi has to develop more leisure. Abu Dhabi will get there but I think the next few years are going to be a bit challenging because you have a large supply. But in the long term I think Dubai and Abu Dhabi will complement each other."

Neil George, the vice president of acquisitions and development in Africa and the Middle East for Starwood, which has brands including St Regis, Sheraton and Le Meridien, is also confident in the future.

"If you take a long-term view - we're in the long-term business -our hotel contracts are for 30, 35, 40 years, so a couple of years doesn't change your view about the market as a whole. Over time, the fundamentals are still there." – The National

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Arab Parliament reiterates UAE's sovereignty over the three Islands occupied by Iran

posted on 16/05/2012

Cairo - The Arab Parliament has reaffirmed the UAE's full sovereignty over the three Islands: The Greater and Lesser Tunbs and Abu Musa, calling on Iran to settle the issue amicably through direct negotiations or the International Court of Justice (ICJ). It called for speeding up holding of first round of Arab-Iranian talks, which will address the issue of islands on the top of agenda.

Ahmed Mohammed Al Jarwan, Head of the UAE Parliament Bureau delegation to the Arab Parliament meetings said in a statement that the issue of occupation of three UAE Islands by Iran has been included in the agenda of the Arab Parliament to settle it, adding that the UAE is keen to participate in all regional, international and special parliamentary sessions, among others, Arab Parliament.

He called for parties to comply with the Palestinian Reconciliation Charter, speed up its implementation and set up a national reconciliatory government and complement work of committee to develop the Palestinian Liberation Movement. Al Jarwan also called on the Arab Parliament to seriously support the Palestinian struggle, especially over Jerusalem, through assertion of the right of Palestinian people to resist the occupation in all forms.

On the Syrian issue, Al Jarwan said the Parliament supports the mission of Kofi Annan, Joint Special Envoy of the UN and the Arab League to settle the Syrian standoff peacefully. The Arab Parliament denounced the blasts and violence, which claimed the lives of innocent civilians, calling for making the mission of international observers a success. – Emirates News Agency, WAM

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UAE joins 11-member Gas Exporting Countries Forum

posted on 16/05/2012

The Cabinet gave approval yesterday for the UAE's decision to join the Gas Exporting Countries Forum (GECF).

The Gas Exporting Countries Forum is an intergovernmental organisation of 11 of the world's leading natural gas producers made up of Algeria, Bolivia, Egypt, Equatorial Guinea, Iran, Libya, Nigeria, Qatar, Russia, Trinidad and Tobago and Venezuela. The Cabinet's ratification, at its meeting chaired by His Highness Sheikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, UAE Vice-President and Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, made UAE the 12th state to join the forum of the major gas exporting countries in the world.

The Cabinet also gave approval to the decision by the UAE government to join the Arab Union of Land Transport (AULT).

AULT is a pan-Arab organisation representing road transport interests in the Arab League. Its members consist mainly of public and private operators of collective passengers and freight transport, primarily cross-border.

The meeting also ratified the air transport pact signed with Lithuania, discussed a number of items on the agenda and took appropriate decisions. – Emirates News Agency, WAM

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Dana Gas reports strong profit growth for Q1 2012

posted on 16/05/2012

Dana Gas reported a 125 per cent jump in its first quarter net profits reaching Dh206 million for the first quarter of 2012, up from Dh92 million recorded during the corresponding period last year.

Gross revenue increased 14 per cent to Dh700 million, up from Dh616 million, while gross profit grew 34 per cent to Dh451 million, up from Dh337 million, the company said in a statement. Its production, however, declined 5.5 per cent to 63,000 barrel of energy per day (boepd), from 66,800 boepd.

Net profit rose principally from higher realised hydrocarbon prices during the quarter. The net profit excludes an unrealised gain of Dh135 million on Dana Gas's 3 per cent shareholding in MOL, the Hungarian listed oil and gas company and a strategic partner in Dana Gas's Kurdistan Region of Iraq (KRI) operations.

"This gain is booked directly to equity in line with the company's published accounting policy, resulting in total comprehensive income for Q1 2012 of Dh341 million,” said the Sharjah-based company.

Group cash balances as at 31 March 2012 stood at Dh524 million (31 December 2011: Dh411 million).

"Dana Gas's cash flow has been impacted by global macroeconomic and regional events. The revolution in Egypt last year and the subsequent unfolding turmoil in Egypt resulted in sporadic and progressively delayed payment of revenue by government-owned entities,” the statement said.

"Similarly, political disputes in Iraq have impacted planned payments by the central government to petroleum companies operating in the KRI. Despite these challenging external macroeconomic circumstances, Dana Gas hopes that these problems will resolve themselves in the short- and medium-term.”

The company's US$1 billion sukuk, secured against certain Egyptian assets as well as SajGas and UGTC, are due to mature on 31 October 2012. Although the economic realities outlined above affected Dana's ability to raise new funding, the company said, it is committed to finding a consensual solution that is equitable to all stakeholders.

"For these purposes, the company has appointed Deutsche Bank, Blackstone Group and Latham and Watkins as its financial and legal advisors to advice on various options for discussions with the sukuk holders and their advisors. The Company will provide further updates as further progress is made,” the statement said.

Earnings before interest, tax, depreciation, amortisation and exploration (EBITDAX) were Dh459 million, compared to Dh403 million in the first quarter of last year, an increase of 14 per cent.

The revenue collections attributable to the group during the quarter were Dh335 million of which Dh192 million was collected in Egypt and Dh143 million representing the company's 40 per cent share of collections in KRI.

The company's cash flow has been affected by macroeconomic and regional events which resulted in delayed revenue collections from its customers being mainly government entities.

Hamid Jafar, Board Chairman of Dana Gas, said: "Our revenue collections were in line with expectation and we continue to have constructive discussions with both the Government of Egypt and the Government of the Kurdistan Region of Iraq on payment of Company's receivables.

Overall, however, this has been a reasonable quarter financially and we look forward to the rest of the year with renewed confidence.”

Dana Gas Egypt produced gas, LPG, condensate and crude oil at an average rate of 34,500 boepd in the first quarter. Production is expected to increase later in the year as compression facilities and new production wells are added, and two new fields are brought on stream. In the Kurdistan Region of Iraq, the Company's 40 per cent share of production in the Kor Mor Field continued to increase, achieving an average rate of 28,500 boepd (2011: 19,500 boepd).

This 46 per cent increase in production was mainly due to increased gas deliveries achieved by running the 2 trains of the LPG plant and the early production facility (EPF) in parallel, and including the condensate and LPG extracted from the additional gas.

Ahmad Al Arbeed, Chief Executive Officer of Dana Gas, added: "Good progress is being made on our drilling programme in Egypt, with one new field discovery (the West Al Baraka Field) in the South of the country. We plan to drill further exploration and development wells in Northern Egypt. I am also pleased to report that the commissioning and start-up of the Natural Gas liquids plant in Ras Shukheir (Egypt) is advancing well and should be operational in Q2 of this year”.

The Company drilled and tested a successful exploration well, West Al Baraka-2, in the Komombo Concession in Southern Egypt. A reservoir fracturing test will be run in June to optimise the production rates and assess the hydrocarbon potential. – Gulf News

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FANR seeks Western region community involvement

posted on 16/05/2012

The Federal Authority for Nuclear Regulation (FANR) hosted a public forum to provide the Western Region community with insight into FANR's Mission, Vision and Core values. During the event FANR explained its role in the UAE's peaceful nuclear power programme and in its function in regulating and licensing radioactive materials and radiation sources used in medicine, research, oil exploration and other industries.

The forum was held at the Cultural Centre in Madinat Zayed and was attended by Dr. Mariam Al Shenasi, Under Secretary at the Ministry of Environment and Water and Board Member of FANR, and almost 200 residents and officials from the Western Region Municipality, the Western Region Development Council and Abu Dhabi Education Council and other government and private organisations.

"We are encouraging residents of the Western Region to be aware of the UAE's peaceful nuclear power programme and particularly aware of FANR's role in the nuclear safety, security and safeguard" said Dr William Travers, FANR's Director General. "FANR is using world experts working alongside Emirati engineers to guarantee high competence and the long-term sustainability of our work." FANR is working closely with its strategic partners in the Western Region such as the Western Region Municipality, Abu Dhabi Education Council, Western Region Development Council, Cultural Centre and Community Police Department to engage with its stakeholders and showcase its full commitment to transparency and sustainability.

The panel from FANR explained to the public its commitment to the highest standards of safety, security and safeguards, and introduced the authority's role and procedures after the Fukushima accident as well as FANR scholarships and career opportunities.

After the presentations, the audience was invited to ask questions, which were received and addressed by FANR officials. – Emirates News Agency, WAM

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Economy gets Dh8.8b boost by last year's Summer Surprises

posted on 16/05/2012

More than four million people visited Dubai's summer attractions last year, boosting Dubai's economy by Dh8.8 billion, including Dh5.9 billion spent by regional and international visitors, and Dh2.9 billion spent by UAE residents.

During the Dubai Summer Surprises (DSS) 2011 festival, an estimated four million people enjoyed DSS-related activities and events, with a total of 888,882 regional and international visitors and just over three million UAE residents attending, according to its organiser Dubai Events and Promotions Establishment (DEPE).

Sheikh Ahmad Bin Saeed Al Maktoum, President of Dubai Civil Aviation and Chairman and CEO of Emirates airline and Group, said: "The results of this study clearly demonstrate that nothing is impossible for Dubai. Fifteen years ago, the Dubai Government's decision to launch a summer tourist event raised questions and doubts. Many were sceptical of the weather-related challenges, along with possible competition from event hubs and tourist destinations across the region. However, Dubai managed to transform these challenges into opportunities through developing initiatives and infrastructure that has allowed the Emirate to become the destination that we know and love today."

The study, commissioned by DEPE and conducted by leading independent global research firm YouGov Siraj, surveyed 1,295 international visitors and UAE residents throughout the festival period (June 22 - July 31, 2011). Survey findings demonstrate the role of the festival in boosting Dubai's retail and tourism industries. Perceptions of DSS among visitors were very positive with around three-quarters of visitors surveyed claiming DSS ‘makes Dubai a much more attractive destination' (73 per cent).

Laila Suhail, CEO of DEPE, said: "Over the last 14 years, DSS has played a central role in establishing Dubai as a leading family destination, creating reasons to visit and shop in the city during the summer months. As we prepare for the opening of the 2012 edition of Dubai Summer Surprises — launching on June 14 — this research demonstrates the positive impact of DSS in enhancing Dubai's attractiveness as a summer destination, as well as its role in encouraging repeat visits." - Gulf News

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High-tech shape to the future of Dubai

posted on 16/05/2012

Dubai aims to reshape its economy following the global financial crisis by swapping focus on its property sector to high-tech industry.

High-tech manufacturing would complement the emirate's existing "classical pillars" of the economy - trade, tourism and services, said Sami Al Qamzi, the director general of Dubai Department of Economic Development (DED).

"The high-end value of manufacturing might be tapped," he said. "If there's appetite, Dubai will definitely go in this direction."

In addition to focusing on sectors such as trade, tourism and services, the emirate will also "tap into new ventures of activities that will help the economy", Mr Al Qamzi said.

The Dubai Government and the federal Government, more broadly, will seek to woo global partners to help to transfer knowledge and technology here, he added, without providing further details.

Dubai is revising its 2015 strategic plan to reflect a more sober reality than the heady days of five years ago when the blueprint was first drawn up. The changes follow a downturn in the emirate's property market, triggered by the global recession. Property has since been dropped as one of the core areas of focus for Dubai's expansion. The property market in Dubai is "saturated", Mr Al Qamzi said.

While companies in Dubai make products ranging from bottled water to aluminium, the emirate has yet to become known as a producer of high-end goods.

Such products, including heavy equipment and electronic circuitry for other products, are credited with generating larger returns for businesses and economies. Officials would like to take advantage of the emirate's central location between Europe and Asia to plug into the global high-tech supply chain.

"We are part of the global economy and have full linkages between Asia, Europe, Latin America and the region through bilateral activities and trade," said Mr Al Qamzi.

He said Dubai was still finalising what new sectors it would like to develop. The plan will then be reviewed by the Dubai Executive Council before being published next month.

Manufacturing already accounts for about 15 per cent of the emirate's GDP and has been growing more than 10 per cent per year over the past decade. Of the other main sectors, trade represents 30 per cent, tourism including hotels and restaurants makes up 3.7 per cent and financial services 11 per cent, according to data from the DED.

In another sign that officials are taking a fresh look at the emirate's future, GDP goals are being revised. Previous annual growth targets of 11 per cent will be replaced with more modest goals of mid-single digit expansion.

"We need to take into consideration that we are in a totally different dilemma," said Mr Al Qamzi, "We are not in double digits, we are single digits".

The emirate's economy will grow 4.5 per cent this year, Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, the chairman of the Dubai Economic Sector Committee, said in February. GDP returned to a positive footing in 2010 after falling 4.5 per cent in 2009, according to the Institute of International Finance.

But the outlook is picking up, economists say.

"Dubai is the biggest non-oil economy in the region. All the macro-economy indicators we have across most of the sectors have been doing fantastic," said Philippe Dauba-Pantanacce, a senior economist for Turkey, Middle East and North Africa at Standard Chartered. – The National

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UAE accounts for 31% of GCC banking assets

posted on 16/05/2012

The UAE banks have the largest share of banking assets in the GCC that rose by 8.9 per cent in 2011 to US$1.46 trillion, equivalent to 106 per cent of regional gross domestic product, or GDP.

The UAE banks account for 31 per cent of the total assets in the GCC, a report by QNB Group said. Saudi Arabia's banking sector is in second place, with 28 per cent of GCC assets, but it is the smallest in relative terms, at around 71 per cent of GDP, the report said.

The report observed that the UAE has the highest level of domestic loan penetration, 78 per cent of GDP, primarily as a result of extensive lending to the real estate sector. Saudi Arabia has the lowest, at 40 per cent of GDP, but this may increase when a long-awaited law reforming mortgage financing is implemented and boosts access to credit.

Analysis of the GCC banking sector performed by QNB Group concludes that the region's banking sector's prospects are stable and banks are expected to be remain profitable and that the sector itself has room for growth.

The report said that the GCC banking assets have been growing strongly in recent years, except for a slow period in 2009, at a compound annual growth rate of 7.5 per cent from 2007-11. This growth in banking assets is a consequence of the region's economic boom, driven by high oil prices.

A recent report by the National Bank of Kuwait, NBK, endorses this view, forecasting that GCC banks would perform better this year because of high public spending and an increase in lending.

For banks in GCC countries, 2011 was a better year than the one before. Bank profits continued to improve and assets growth was healthy, NBK said in its report.

"In the current global context, the region's economic growth is relatively good, with governments at various stages of implementing ambitious capital spending plans to boost economic growth and funding is plentiful. However, some regional banks continued to deal with the after-effects of the 2008 global financial crisis, particularly on their asset quality,” it said. According to QNB report, in terms of profitability, the combined net profit of the ten top GCC banks increased by 18.1 per cent in 2011, to US$12.3 billion. QNB Group led the pack, with profit growth of 32 per cent to US$2.1 billion.

The GCC's banking sector is in a good position to support the ongoing development of the region. Strong GDP growth, which QNB Group forecasts will average 4.6 percent in real terms for the GCC in 2012-13, will increase the demand for bank financing across the economy. As a result, regional banking assets are expected to continue to grow strongly. At the same time, conservative banking policies will ensure that the banks remain stable through this period of growth.

The report said Qatar's banking sector saw the most rapid increase in assets during 2011, growing by 22.3 per cent. It looks set to move ahead of Bahrain (an offshore financing hub) to take third place in the region by asset size, having previously overtaken Kuwait in 2010.

Domestic banks hold the majority of assets in each country, with the exception of Bahrain where foreign banks hold 57 per cent. For the region as a whole, domestic banks in their home countries hold 83 percent of assets.

Loans as a share of GDP in the GCC rose to 56 per cent in 2011, but this is low compared to countries like the UK where loans are 153 per cent of GDP.

This largely explains the GCC's fairly low share of overall banking assets relative to GDP. There is therefore space for an increase in the loan penetration rates in the GCC, the report said. – Khaleej Times

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UAE remains top market for Japan

posted on 16/05/2012

The UAE maintained its position as the largest market for Japanese products in the Middle East in the first quarter of 2012 after a sharp rise over the same quarter of last year, according to official Japanese data.

The UAE also emerged as the region's second largest exporter to the Asian industrial giant after Saudi Arabia and the bulk of those exports included crude oil and gas, the Japanese External Trade Organisation (Jetro) said.

Jetro's latest statistics bulletin also showed higher oil prices boosted the total exports of the six-nation Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) to Japan surged by around 30 per cent in the first quarter of 2012 over the same period of 2011.

From around US$1.73 billion in the first quarter of 2011, Japan's exports to the UAE soared to US$2.42 billion in the first quarter of 2012, the report showed.

The UAE's exports to Japan, mostly crude oil, gas and aluminium, also swelled from around US$9.58 billion to US$11.54 billion in the same period.

Saudi Arabia emerged as the top Gulf exporter to Japan with a total value of around US$14.3 billion in the first quarter of 2012 compared with nearly US$12.3 billion in the first quarter of 2011. But it was the second largest importer from that country, with a value of US$2.09 billion in the first quarter of this year against about US$1.6 billion in the first quarter of 2011.

The report showed the GCC's combined exports to Japan jumped by around 30 per cent to US$41.7 billion in the first quarter of 2012 from around US$32.15 billion in the first quarter of 2011.

The group's imports from the Asian nation also grew to nearly US$6.61 billion from US$4.73 billion in the same period.

The surge in exports widened the GCC's trade surplus with their main economic and commercial partner 35 billion in the first quarter of this year from nearly US$27.4 billion in the first quarter of 2011.

The report showed Qatar, the world's third largest gas power, emerged as the third exporter to Japan in the Middle East because of a sharp rise in its LNG sales to that market over the past few years. Its exports soared to nearly US$9.8 billion in the first quarter of 2012 from US$6.38 billion in the first quarter of 2011.

Massive oil supplies have kept the GCC-Japan trade balance largely in favour of the 31-year-old Gulf alliance, with the surplus peaking at nearly US$117 billion in 2008. It stood at about US$122 billion last year.

Japan gets more than 80 per cent of its oil needs from the GCC, Iran, Iraq and other Middle Eastern crude producers. Saudi Arabia and the UAE alone supply it with more than two million bpd, nearly half its total oil imports.

Besides crude, the GCC's exports to Japan include aluminium, natural gas, LNG and petroleum products, with the bulk of the aluminium supplies coming from Dubai and Bahrain. The GCC's imports from that country comprise mainly electronics, vehicles, machinery, and other industrial products. – Emirates 24|7

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Dubai Customs launches an awareness campaign about endangered animals

posted on 16/05/2012

As part of its efforts in maintaining environment and in response to implementing the "Green Customs" initiative which was proclaimed in 2003 by United Nations Environment Program and to implementing the Convention on combating trade with endangered species of wild of Fauna and Flora (CITES) which UAE joined in 1990, Dubai Customs, yesterday at Mirdif City Centre launched an awareness campaign to educate the public about the endangered animals with aim to combat illegal trade of environment harmful substances.

The campaign was launched with the attendance of Mr. Ahmed Mahboob Musabah, Executive Director of Clients management Division, along with a number of officials at the department.

Mrs. Feryal Tawakul, Executive Director of Community Affairs and Government Partnership Division at Dubai Customs, emphasised that the campaign comes within Dubai Customs strategy of educating the community about the imperilled animals and increasing awareness about the environmental and community issues, especially, Dubai Customs is one of the leading government departments giving due concerns to the matters related to the protection of environment and habitats within their top strategic priorities to ensure implementation of international conventions and initiatives in this regard.

"The campaign will continue from 15 to 20 May, at Central Galleria -Mirdif City Centre Central Galleria - ground floor and during different periods throughout the year," she said.

"The campaign, as within objectives of Dubai Customs' Social Responsibility, implementation of its strategic plans and enhancement of its effort in preserving environment (inland-sea-air), intends to spread the culture of environment protection. During the events, brochures shall be distributed at Mirdif City Centre to the visitors," she added.

The visitor at the Centre will also have an idea about the role of the Customs inspectors who continuously receive training courses to improve their skills and develop their competencies with aim of carrying out effective mission in protecting the local community from infiltration of prohibited goods or entry of such goods to local use through the air, inland or seaports to purposely ensure enhancement of international image enjoyed by Dubai Customs in areas of Customs inspection operation.

Tawakul explained that the Department in March, 2012, launched a campaign through the social network site (Facebook and Twitter) to publish information about the imperilled animals and plants, and educating the public about the consequences of their extinction, in addition to the importance of releasing regular updated lists with the endangered animals and plants in coordination with the related agencies and Ministry of Environment and Water.

Mrs. Feryal pointed out that smuggling of endangered animals, plants and their products is incompatible with Islamic preaching and an activity incriminated by international legislations including convention of CITES.

The UAE Federal Law No. (11) of 2002 pertaining to Regulating and Controlling of the International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora restricts exportation, transit, unloading, re-shipping, re-exporting or entry of any animals or plants or their parts or products without official approvals, certificates and attestation.

Mrs. Tawakul said: "imperilled animals under the convention of CITES, including, their skins and taxidermies, as well trees and plants should be disclosed at airports, sea and inland ports by passengers to Dubai Customs inspectors: otherwise, it will be considered illegal attempt of infiltration and shall be punishable in pursuant to the law." – Emirates News Agency, WAM

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Mega cruise ship arrives in Dubai

posted on 16/05/2012

Royal Caribbean International's Voyager of the Seas, one of the biggest cruise ships, has arrived at Dubai's cruise terminal for the first time.

At a length of 311 meters, if you turned the ship 90 degrees it would be almost the same height as Burj Al Arab. She can carry up to 3,114 guests and 1,185 crew, has a total of 15 passenger decks and a gross tonnage of 138,000 tonnes.

Sailing from Barcelona on April 30, Voyager of the Seas visited Alexandria, and via the Suez Canal, went on to Sharm El-Sheikh and Safaga, before arriving in Dubai. After her stop in Dubai, the ship will re-locate to Asia becoming the largest cruise ship ever to sail out of the region. The ship will operate summer departures out of Singapore and Shanghai in 2012 with a series of 4 to 7 night cruises to different exotic Southeast Asian, Japanese and Korean destinations. Thereafter, the ship will sail via Singapore to Australia making Sydney her new home and visiting ports around Australia and New Zealand.

Voyager of the Seas was revitalised at the end of 2011 and will now exclusively offer the DreamWorks Experience in the Far East and South Pacific. DreamWorks Animation characters, such as Po the Warrior Dragon from Kung Fu Panda, Shrek and Fiona, and Alex the Lion and Gloria the Hippo from Madagascar, will delight guests in character breakfasts. – Khaleej Times

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GCC visa for cruise-goers on cards

posted on 16/05/2012

The plan for a single visa system for the GCC (Gulf Cooperation Council) countries for cruise passengers, which has been under discussion for almost four years, is finally expected to be in place by September, according to a senior Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing official.

"We have raised it [the visa issue] to the highest level and it is under way. Hopefully, we will have positive feedback.

"It will happen for sure before the next season. So it should be done by September this year," Hamad Mohammad Bin Mejren, DTCM's Executive Director for Business Tourism, told Gulf News yesterday on the sidelines of a conference to announce the maiden call of Royal Caribbean International's Voyager of the Seas cruise ship at Dubai's Port Rashid.

Asked if it would be a single visa for all the GCC countries, he said: "That is what we hope for. That's what we have conveyed [to the authorities] we want and that's what we hope will happen."

He added that the visa process will be eased for cruise passengers and the region's travel and tourism industry is pushing the federal authorities to introduce it as quickly as possible.

The region's travel and tourism industry, along with cruise companies, has been pushing the federal authorities to introduce the single visa for cruise tourists.

The visa will enable visitors to tour all six GCC countries — the UAE, Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar, Oman and Saudi Arabia.

Asked if the cruise industry also, expected the visa situation to be resolved by September, Helen Beck, Regional Director, EMEA for Royal Caribbean International, told Gulf News: "Yes, indeed. We have had verbal confirmation from the DTCM that it is very likely that the visa situation will be resolved [by September].

"But we are waiting for the written confirmation and details of exactly what that means."

Hoping it would be a single visa for all GCC countries, Beck said: "That's our expectation and that's the information we have been missing at the moment, as to specifically what the proposal from the immigration team is going to be.

"Our understanding is that it's in place to make a change but we are not exactly 100 per cent certain yet what the visa will be. I imagine — but it's not confirmed — that it will be some kind of multi-entry visa specifically for cruise guests."

A single visa can speed things up in the cruise business as ships use Dubai as the hub to sail to other countries in the region such as Oman, Qatar, Bahrain and Kuwait.

At present, a lot of foreign travellers must secure several UAE entry visas.

Great uptake

The current visa process, according to Beck, blocks guests from key countries such as Russia, China, South Africa, Brazil and other such emerging markets, to visit the UAE and join a cruise. She told Gulf News in an earlier interview that it costs them [travellers] "approximately US$150 (Dh550) per person" to just come in and out of the country, adding that cruise companies would get a "great uptake" in cruise guests if a single visa were adopted. – Gulf News

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The President of the UAE Cup for purebred Arabian horses to start in Pimlico on Saturday

posted on 16/05/2012

The President of the UAE Cup Gr 1 for Arabian purebred horses will be flagged off on Saturday at Pimlico Race Track in Maryland-USA, marking the 2nd leg of the Thoroughbred Triple Crown.

The event is organised as per directives from UAE President His Highness Sheikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan and is supported by Abu Dhabi Crown Prince and Deputy Supreme Commander of UAE Armed Forces His Highness General Sheikh Mohammed Bin Zayed Al Nahyan. The prestigious event in the series will be followed-up by President's Adviser HH Sheikh Dr. Sultan Bin Khalifa Al Nahyan, Chairman of the Emirates Equestrian Federation. The 1 1/16 mile race for 4 yr olds and up Open will run for a purse of US$75,000 added. The President of the UAE Cup has been run at various American tracks in recent years, including at Keeneland two years ago and Churchill Downs last year. – Emirates News Agency, WAM

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